How I Saved Harley Matthews

Chapter Eight: Let the Games Begin

The current buzz around school has been focused around the fact Lockhart has actually made it into the second round of playoffs for football. We haven't won State since 1987, and everyone thinks this is our big break.

It was early morning on a Friday, and I was sitting at the girls and my round table before school. All student body was required to be located in three places before school actually started. In the gym for morning practice, the band hall for early warm ups, or the cafeteria if you didn't fit into the previous categories.

Max was in the Band Hall with Gabe. Ella, Emma, and I didn't participate in indoor sports or band so that left us in the cafeteria. However, considering Emma's mother was a teacher, she was always found in her room in the mornings. As for Ella, if she showed up on time, she was always doing homework like this morning.

"Current events are the stupidest assignment known to man kind. Like seriously I doubt our history teacher even reads these." Ella grumbled as the tried to scribble down her event down before the first bell.

"Yeah." I mumbled as I scrolled through my phone.

"And this pep rally, seriously? I'm behind in all of my classes, and like I want to spend my free period watching cheerleaders cheer to the same songs, again."

"El if Jason Bradshaw was on that football team, it would be a completely different story." I said as I looked up from my phone to scope out the cafeteria.

"But he's not, so I don't care." She proclaimed with a cheerful voice. "I finished!" A chuckle left my lips, and I skimmed over the breakfast line by the soda machines filled with only water.

My smile dropped from my lips as my eyes met Logan and his group of hoodlums cold stare. Every single one had a rock hard expression aimed at me.

... Logan has it out of you...

My breathing hitched, and I felt my palms growing sweaty. The chatter in the cafeteria sounded clouded, distant. The only thing I could focus on was the grime fill smirk of Logan.

I didn't know what I was thinking when Harley told me about him. Sure Harley would warn me to say away from Logan, but he wasn't my personal body guard. I had already seen that even if it was me, Harley wouldn't intervene between Logan and I.

Ding-Ding

The loud bell rang shattering the bubble I had formed around me. I quickly grabbed my bag and said goodbye to Ella before I hurried away to first period.

I was digging deep into my locker to retrieve my physics binder when I heard someone say,

"Hello Audin." I pulled back and faced the the mysterious voice owner.

The boy was tall framed with short light golden brown hair accompanied with a slight hint of freckles decorating his face. He wore a black jacket and medium wash jeans, and he grinned a white smile.

Automatically I knew he belonged to Logan. "My name's Frazer," he said as he placed a hand over his chest.

He watched me cautiously and took a step forward. These boys never understood the means of personal space. "Look Frazer, it's nice to meet you, but I have class." I said as I tried to step around him.

"Not so fast." He said, holding up a finger. "What's the rush Audin? Do you not like my company?" He whispered as his fingers trailed lightly up my arm and tightened on my fore arm.

"Frazer!" An all too familiar voice called, and I jerked myself free. "Buddy, your one night stand is looking for you, and she's coming around the corner."

"Shit, I knew better than to mess with the blonde." Frazer complained as he looked at Harley, ignoring me as if I had vanished.

"Don't worry, you go, and I'll take care of this." Harley offered which Frazer was more than happy to oblige to.

Once Frazer had scurried away from us quickly into another hallway, Harley gave me a death glare resembling the one from this morning. "Are you fucking kidding me Audin. I gave you one task, stay away from Logan. That doesn't mean go play around with his boys."

"News flash Harley, you're one of his boys." I said irritatedly.

I was in no mood to argue with him today. "And Frazer came to me. This is my locker." I waved my hand in front of the door.

"Audin. I don't have time for this. Look, stay away from them. Logan is ruthless, and he doesn't care what he does..." Harley trailed off as he looked towards a student dressed in dark shaded clothing staring at us auguring.

I guess he wasn't use to seeing people like us even looking at each other better yet, talking. A few seconds ticked by feeling like hours.

"Harley?" I said snapping my fingers, attempting to gather his attention.

"Hey punk! Do we have a problem!" He yelled making me flinch.

"Harley leave him alone." I commanded as I jerked his soft cotton long sleeve green shirt.

His dark eyes fell to me in a questionable look, and in one swift step he shoved me against the lockers hard, yet remotely making little noise. My books tumbled to the floor along with my phone. "Don't put your filthy fucking hands on me."

I shrunk farther into the lockers, and my shaky hand dropped his shirt. "I-I..."

"Remember what I told you." He sneered and disappeared from in front of me.

I struggled to gather my things I had dropped. Harley was so easily angered over simply nothing. Small tears gathered in my eyes as I fought back the lump growing in my throat.

After I collected all of my things I rushed off to class, which I was late for.

"Miss Bellarose, this is a relatively small school. I would hope you could make it to class on time." My teacher grumbled as I muttered a sorry.

I did my best to focus on my assignment in front of me, however my mind continued to wander. I sat back in my seat, and instantly lurched forward. My left shoulder stung with flaming pain to the touch. I hardly bruised, but I could defiantly tell when I did.

My phone vibrated against my thigh, and I fumbled to grab it from my lap. Carefully seeing my physics teacher seated at his desk, I checked my new message.

We were being watched in the hallway, don't take it to the heart Bellarose.

Anyway, to the important stuff.

Dare 1:

I dare you to skip the pep rally. Meet me at the back end of the school next period. I'll be waiting.

Even though Harley was throwing the wild boy pack off of our whatever type of relationship this was, he could have been more subtle with it. Shoving me into a locker wasn't the best way to handle things.

And this first dare might seem small, but I've never skipped class before much less a mandatory pep rally. No matter, I had to skip, there was no way Harley was finding out my secret first.

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A/N: Hello!

I'm so sorry! I know I said Wednesday, but I completely forgot.

Frazer is played by Josh Hutcherson.

Oh and it was my birthday today!